Off to Bristol tomorrow for the first MISI event. I'll be running a kids craft workshop to make peg dollies and also stepping in to cover the pom pom making session.

Plus, I've finally got round to adding a Make and Take Away page on Facebook and this will be updated more regularly than this blog so check it out!

go to Facebook then search Make and Take Away

Find out more about MISI event here:

http://www.misi.co.uk/

Sew Fruity 

THURSDAY 20 AUGUST 10am - 12noon

A fun session to learn hand sewing basics (Those with sewing skills are welcome too) 

Workshop at 

Scrappies Scrapstore in Church Stretton

Please contact Scrappies direct to make a booking 

www.scrappies.org 01694 722511     info@scrappies.org

Enchanted workshop

Last week Carol from Storyspace and I finally managed to run the pilot for the Enchanted Garden workshop. 

The idea for this began more that 12 months ago when we decided to combine our talents and run a joint workshop with storytelling, drama and visual art. The workshop is aimed at Key Stage 1 & 2 but we know that it can be adapted for younger and older age groups. We planned to run the first programme through LEA schools but it is a flexible feast and we have already had interest from libraries.

Huge thanks to Stoke Prior School for letting us run the workshop, your feedback was invaluable and it was a pleasure to be in the school. Such a creative place. 

There's a few images on the Make and Take Away Facebook page.

What a week! Began with a very wet farm tour on Monday. Tuesday saw the pilot for the Enchanted Garden. Huge thanks to Sally and the staff at Stoke Prior School for letting Carol, from Story Space,  and I try out our new ideas.

Wednesday, it must be Wolverhampton. Went to the Light House Media for a video production workshop and despite wrenching ligaments in my foot after falling down some stairs, had a great day meeting follow students from MA Media Ent at BCU - always the best bit.

Today enjoyed a wonderful workshop at Clifford Primary School near Hay on Wye. Scenery alone was worth the drive. Thank you for a warm welcome and being so creative. The finished piece will look stunning after all your hard work. Busy bees indeed.

Mid year resolution

to go with my mid year crisis and mid life crisis too. Tomorrow is the 1st July, we're past midsummer and I'm thinking "where has the year/my life gone?' barely getting into my stride after the winter. MA studies taking up considerable time but now flowing much better since I have allocated study days (technical term for spending the day in your pyjamas, having snack breaks every hour and reading without feeling guilty) and actually manage to write some content. It's also made me focus on future plans and starting from tomorrow I am pledging to blog at least twice a week. For the purposes of the MA I've been keeping a written journal so it may as well be on line. I'm hoping that with a little discipline I can gradually move content to the blog anyway and try out ideas. Haven't had a website for over a year but not rushing to replace it until I know what I need. The blog seems like the perfect way to do this.

Felt very pleased with myself for ordering a card reader to be able to transfer images off the camera more quickly. However, when it arrived its not compatible with my xd card even though the description said it would be. Darn. Anyway it is ok with my mobile which doesn't take great pictures but here is one of the chickens just to prove I can actually do it.

Note: They're easily bored and not very good at group pictures, but as they lay the best eggs ever I forgive them.

How many jobs is it ok to have?

Found myself facing redundancy at the end of April. Not surprising as the farm shop had been so quiet for months but still came as a bit of a blow. Finished work on Thursday 30th, registered for Job Seekers on Friday 1st then picked up a part time job on Saturday 2nd. 

When I went for my interview at the Job Centre the following Wednesday they seemed somewhat surprised that I had taken a job. Not only that I still had to check the 11 pages of my JSA application to confirm they were correct then hand write a note at the end to say why I wasn't going to claim after all. I could have claimed for 2 days but it really wasn't worth the hassle. Very glad to get out of there. 

In the meantime I had also contacted a few friends, colleagues and people who may vaguely remember me to ask if there was any work about. Really want to get the MA finished for the end of August and prepared to do whatever it takes to bring in enough to hold body and soul together. Has been successful; have bookings for craft workshops, part time job at local Spar, work with an outside caterer, registered with another and working on a freelance basis for my previous employer. Then there's the voluntary work with learning disabled adults which I still do a bit because its very satisfying and the staff are lovely.

Guess spending my days wearing pyjamas and watching Jeremy Kyle will have to wait.

Adult Learning week 

14.05.09 - Bromyard library. Papermaking

15.05.09 - Kington library. Book making.

Juggling it all

I bumped into a friend the other day that I haven't seen for a while. "what are you up to these days?' she said. "Well, I'm working full time at Grove Farm and studying for a Masters degree in Media Enterprise. Er, and still trying to keep the craft workshops going as well." (Apart from having 2 school age children, a husband and house to take care of but that would have sounded like I WAS actually some kind of Superwoman)

"I see" she said "Quite busy then" I wondered whether it had sounded boastful reeling off all these things that fill my days. I certainly didn't mean to but it did make me realise that there is quite a lot happening and just how do I fit it all in?

OK, so the reality is I'm not Superwoman and some days I don't fit it all in. Like last night when I should really have done some studying but sat and watched The Apprentice with a glass of wine instead.  I'm actually quite hard on myself and don't think that I do nearly enough. Not enough cleaning, help with homework, nutritionally balanced meals - that kind of thing and get quite low on a regular basis for failing everyone including myself. I am very lucky to have a husband who, with the odd exception, is very supportive and lets me do these crazy things when we could just do with a steady income and stay home mum. I'm grateful too for my 2 children who have to cope with a very flexible routine (of course, they may just benefit from this - possibly?) But I look at other women and think 'How?'. How do you run that business empire, achieve all that success, appear to be omnipresent?

I'm off to work in less than 20 minutes so for now I'll just; put the bin bags out, shut the chickens in, wash up, sweep up, put the washing out (did I see the forecast?), fill in the children's report reply slips, write a shopping list for all the stuff we've run out of (toothpaste fairly desperate) and then off to work. The business empire will have to wait.

Recently I signed up for motivating emails from www.coachingmums.co.uk. It's a great site set up by a mum, Amanda Alexander who helps other busy mums in the real world see how much they can achieve by staying positive. She says ....

'Do what you can when you can with what you have got. And don't beat yourself up about the rest.'

That will do for me!

Time out

Hope all you Mums out there were well looked after on Sunday. I can't fault my day; began with freshly baked croissants in bed and ended with my husband cooking the evening meal. Also got to see the whole of Shirley Valentine accompanied by wine and chocolates and no smart remarks.

Most importantly I was allowed to spend time on the laptop, without feeling guilty as it was MY day, which resulted in me opening my Etsy shop. Hurray! Actually I opened 2 shops which was a mistake but it will be interesting to see if one is found before the other. I only had one item to sell so it is a very exculsive boutique at this stage.  This is a picture of the embroidered brooch I have listed.

Find it at www.mystashyourstash.etsy.com. I'd love to hear what you think of the shop and of Etsy in general.

This was quite an achievement for me with my limited pc skills. Ok, so the shop doesn't look very exciting yet but it was quite a step for me. I'm hoping that it will be a way to share the templates and patterns I have spent so many hours preparing for workshops. There is so much free content available it does seem a bit daunting to try and earn from my designs. However, finding quality and usable material is another matter. That another thing I have spent hours doing.

Bring on the sunshine

Isn't it amazing what a difference some sunshine can make? Feel so much more motivated and creative this week.  Have even managed to do some stitching after a long,long break. If it looks ok when I have finished I'll post some pictures!

Apart from the summer workshops at Queenswood Country Park I will also be joining Ranger Jim in October half term week a family art event on Tuesday 27th October. We will walk in the woods collecting fallen material and then make a large piece of artwork on the woodland trail. What a great way to spend some time together. 

Earlier this week I had to plan for a workshop for adults with learning difficulties. They are a lovely group to work with but have varying levels of ability so it can be quite a challenge to find things that are interesting enough for them without being to complex.  Came up with a box idea that would act as a gift box for a polyanthus and could then double up as a gift for Mothers Day. I was worried it looked to straightforward but everyone loved it.  And as usual the volunteer helpers came up with some creative variations. Jane suggested it had commercial potential and she would steel the idea. Ha, ha beat you to it! It'll be on Etsy as soon as I've sussed out how to open a shop.

It is one of my own designs. Thought up while I was watching Heston Blumenthal's Tudor feast. Though that did not give the inspiration!

Spent a lovely afternoon yesterday running a session for the local ECHO group. I have been lucky enough to have worked with them for nearly 3 years now. They have recently had their funding cut, sign of the times, which means they can't pay for as many sessional workers. I have decided to volunteer half a day each month so that I can carry on working with them. This is great all round; I get more experience, references and images from the workshops, they get a tutor free of charge and we all benefit from sharing ideas and resources. Win, win, win.

It turned out to be a good start to the week (unusually) as I received a free copy of a publication called Creative Steps. See www.creativesteps.co.uk. What a brilliant magazine, excellent ideas for 0-7 craft activities. I am hoping that I might be able to contribute some of my tried and tested makes.

July workshops at Queenswood

Those lovely people at Queenswood Country Park have invited me back to run 2 craft sessions in the school holidays.

Monday 20th July - Make a Green Man or woman or tree sprite

Monday 27th July - Weave in the woods.

Weather permitting both events will be held outside in the woods. There will be 3 sessions each day lasting for one hour but booking is advisable as it proved very popular last year. Details will be advertised soon. Cost is £3.50 and you get to take home what you make.

Sew much fun

Thanks for stopping by at the first note for this site.  I run craft workshops for all ages and plan to run a series of make and take away craft this year aimed at 8 - 12 year olds, so please get in touch if this is of interest to you.

The sessions can be held at any suitable venue; village halls, community rooms, afterschool clubs. More details will be posted soon but please do get in touch if you have any ideas.

This blog will also be a chance to share some of the ideas and inspiration behind the workshops I have run over the last 4 years or so.  I have been lucky enough to work with some wonderful people of all ages and abilities which has proved there is lots of creativity out there but not always the chance to use it.

Coming soon....... websites for resources, reviews, templates and patterns, galleries and more.